20 most viewed news stories of the week (July 28)

The first professionally-shot footage of The Stone Roses since their reformation emerges, after a five-minute video of the legendary band performing their classic song ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ at this year’s Benicassim festival on July 14. Check it out here.

Credit: Tom Martin/NME

2/20

Is there any such thing as an uneventful Madonna gig? The ‘MDNA’ singer was at it again this week after she defied warnings from police to brandish a machine gun and a six-shooter pistol on stage at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium. Her decision drew criticism after the tragic Denver cinema shooting, with Mothers Against Guns saying her stunt was in “bad taste” and that she “should know better”.

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3/20

Muse going dubstep!? The band admitted that the much-mocked DJ was the inspiration for their new track ‘Unsustainable’, which’ll feature on their new album ‘The Third Law’, set for release on September 17.

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4/20

Rumours spread that Arctic Monkeys will play the London 2012 Olympics ceremony this evening after Argentinean journalist Juan Martin Rinaldi tweeted a photograph which seemingly showed frontman Alex Turner rehearsing for the event. The bands’ representatives said they could neither confirm nor deny the reports – but previously, a leaked document suggested they’d feature in tonight’s spectacle.

Credit: Dean Chalkley/NME

5/20

Plan B speaks out after he’s photographed wearing what appears to be a Skrewdriver t-shirt. Skrewdriver were a notorious neo-Nazi “white power” group with links to the National Front, but the rapper insisted he was ignorant of their controversial history in addition to revealing it was not an official Skrewdriver shirt.

Credit: Tom Oxley/NME

6/20

Kate Nash hits out at X Factor and glossy magazines for the culture of child bullying. The ‘Don’t Underestimate The Girl’ singer insisted that adults can’t tell their children that bullying is wrong when they, themselves, are slagging off singers on the popular music talent show.

Credit: Press

7/20

Trust Blur to move with the times so seamlessly: the Britpop legends have launched their own iPhone and iPad app which eatures rare and previously unreleased music, including demos and remixes, alongside archive video footage of band interviews and live performances. It also includes photo galleries, biographies, a career timeline, and a comprehensive discography and videography.

Credit: Dean Chalkley/NME

8/20

One man who’s not such a fan of mobile phones, though, is Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson – especially when they’re being used at gigs. The singer called a fan texting on his handset a “wanker” during the band’s show in Indiana, Indianapolis. You can watch fan footage of his outburst by clicking here.

Credit: PA

9/20

Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme has spoken candidly about his battle with alcoholism, revealing that his drinking problem had become so consuming by the time the band came to record their 2009 LP ‘The Resistance’ that Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard were often left to work on their music alone. Talking about his decision to quit, he added: “There was only two ways to go: die in a few years or stop.”

Credit: Dean Chalkley/NME

10/20

Liam and Noel are at it again, after the Beady Eye frontman took a pop at his older brother’s plans to tour the US with Snow Patrol. He tweeted: “snore patrol Noel Gallaghers high flying smurfs who said rock n roll is dead LG”. Liam will also reportedly sing his old band’s classic song ‘Wonderwall’ at the Olympics closing ceremony – after Noel seemingly turned down the opportunity himself.

Credit: PA

11/20

Tragically, missing Stone Roses fan Christopher Brahney, who went missing after the band’s first show at Heaton Park last month (June 29), was found dead after police recovered his body from Manchester Ship Canal. An extensive search had taken place throughout last to find Brahney, with The Stone Roses themselves even appealing for people to come forward with information.

12/20

Fans of The Who who still have a ticket for their cancelled 1979 gig in Providence, Rhode Island can still use the brief for the band’s show in the city in 2013. The legendary group’s gig in the city on December 1979 was pulled by authorities after 11 fans had been trampled to death at a previous show in Ohio, but those who have kept tickets can swap it for a new one for their show next February.

Credit: PA

13/20

A fan was kicked out of a show for tweeting his disapproval at the support act. Punter Mike Taylor was at the concert at Union Transfer in Philadelphia to see nerdcore rapper MC Chris, but was ejected before he got to see him perform after posting a negative tweet aimed at support act Richie Branson.

14/20

The Vaccines singer Justin Young has described the thinking behind forthcoming album track ‘I Wish I Was A Girl’. Speaking about the song, which’ll appear on their new album ‘The Vaccines Come Of Age’ (released September 3), he said: “I was wondering if being beautiful made life any easier. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t, but it’s something I was exploring.”

Credit: Andy Willsher/NME

15/20

Bat For Lashes , aka Natasha Khan, has caused a stir by posing nude on the cover for her new album ‘The Haunted Man’. Set for release on October 15 via Parlophone Records, the album is the follow-up to her second album, 2009’s ‘Two Suns – and you can listen to her comeback track ‘Laura’ here.

16/20

The Killers made a storming live comeback at an intimate show in Asheville, North Carolina earlier this week (July 19). The band debuted four tracks from their forthcoming new album ‘Battle Born’ – named after the words written on their native state Nevada’s flag – which is due for release on September 17.

Credit: Press

17/20

To accompany the release of the new Beatles compilation Tomorrow Never Knows’, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has been espousing the brilliance of the Fab Four. “If it weren’t for The Beatles, I would not be a musician,” he said.
“The Beatles seemed to be capable of anything. They knew no boundaries, and in that freedom they seemed to define what we now know today as ‘Rock and Roll.'”

Credit: Dean Chalkley/NME

18/20

Plan B’s not got any intention of going easy on David Cameron after he insisted the PM is “still a dickhead”. The rapper claimed that the Tory politician has backtracked on his 2006 statement that blaming young people for anti-social behavior was wrong – dubbed as his “hug a hoodie” speech – after he attempted to blame young people for last summer’s riots.

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19/20

Lady Gaga leapt to the defence of Twilight couple Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson after details of the former’s fling with director Rupert Sanders were made public. Writing on her Twitter account, the ‘Born This Way’ singer said: “geez this kirstew rob stuff is brutal. makes me sad the way press acts. hope they’re ok.”

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20/20

Stereophonics have announced that drummer Javier Weyler has left the band. Weyler was the Welsh group’s second drummer after he replaced original sticksman Stuart Cable in 2005, but his departure was announced on the band’s Twitter and Facebook pages earlier this week (July 20).